Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace

One fine day in 2012, Flight 191 from New York to Las Vegas took off as usual. Everything was smooth and people were enjoying the flight until there was mid-air turbulence. But this time it was the JetBlue pilot, Capt. Clayton Osbon, whose erratic behaviour led to a commotion inside the plane. Osbon was eventually overpowered by the passengers as he ranted about ‘terrorists’ and displayed potentially dangerous behaviour. Osbon was suspended from his duties and slapped with criminal charges. According to the criminal complaint, “Osbon yelled jumbled comments about Jesus, September 11th, Iraq, Iran, and terrorists”. In an official statement, JetBlue attributed Osbon’s unprofessional behaviour to a medical condition. There were rumours that he had bipolar disorder.

So, if a pilot of an airline, who goes through stringent and multiple screenings before qualifying to fly an aircraft, can have bipolar disorder, it is even more likely many people with regular jobs may be suffering from the disease.

According to Sara Bodner, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, "It could be genetics; it could be environment. It also could be the way individuals in different cultures are willing to respond to this kind of an inquiry." She also adds, "Cultural awareness plays a very big role in psychiatry. Some cultures have a huge reluctance to speak about psychiatric things." In the U.S., the lifetime rate of bipolar disorder is 4.4% - the highest in the world.

Looking at the number and background of people receiving bipolar treatment in Los Angeles will give a fair idea that it’s not only the common people, even Hollywood celebrities fall victim to bipolar disorder. A tour of the Bpd treatment facilities in CA or any Bpd residential treatment centers in Los Angeles will reveal the harsh fact that bipolar disorder doesn’t discriminate.  

How to identify and deal with a co-worker who has bipolar disorder

Though it is estimated that 1 out of every 20 Americans has bipolar disorder, no accurate data is available about the percentage of bipolar people in our workplaces. But that does not negate the presence of bipolar people in the workplace. So, how do you identify a person suffering from bipolar disorder in your work place? Whenever you notice any of the following symptoms, it is time you press the alert button:

• When there is a surge in energy in somebody

• When somebody feels agitated, irritable, jumpy, edgy, or wired

• When somebody is talking fast, jumping from idea to idea, and having racing thoughts

• When somebody is being easily distracted

• When somebody thinks he/she is invincible with unrealistic belief and possessing exceptional skills.

• Showing signs of impulsivity and high risk behaviour. These could include things like spending sprees or questionable business investments.

Compassion and understanding is what colleagues with bipolar disorder need in times of distress. Management should be considerate and look into it that they receive proper treatment so that they become productive again. There are instances when a worker is no longer trusted with task of responsibility once identified with bipolar disorder, but it should not be the case. Timely treatment of bipolar disorder can be cured and the workers can be inducted back into the workforce. Support is what they need.